Elastic-fluid turbine.



W. J. A. LONDON & E. M. PHILLIPS.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION-FILED 050.12. I917.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

WW /WW Inventors:

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WILLIA'lll J. A. LONDON, 0F SPRINGFIELD, AND EDMUND M. PHILLIPS, 0F LYNN, I

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS '10 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

Application filed December 12, 1917. Serial No. 208,728.

siding'at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification;

The present invention relates to elasticfiuid turbines, and particularly to nozzle diaphragms for such machines.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved nozzle diaphragm which is simple and cheap to construct, and which is light in weight, but at the same time strongand rugged.

For a consideration of what we believe to be novel and our invention, attention is directed to the accompanying'specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a nozzle diaphragm embodying our invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate the structure; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but looking at the other side of the diaphragm; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two of the nozzle partitions, one being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 4 is a section through a series of the nozzle partitions, and Fig. 5 illustrates several diaphragms assembled in a turbine casing.

Referring to the drawing, 6 indicates a turbine casing which is divided into stages by nozzle diaphragms 7, and 8 a shaft carwhich revolve in such stages, the buckets onthe wheels receiving elastic fluid from the nozzles in the diaphragm in the well known manner.

Each nozzle diaphragm comprises two concentric annular rings 10 and 11 between which the nozzle partitions, as shown in Fig. 3, are held. The inner ring 10 is provided on its radially outer side with straight diagonally extending slots 12 adapted to receive one edge of'the nozzle partitions, and on its fluid admission side is formed with an annular recess 13 of the same radial depth as the slots 12, thereby providing a shoulder 13. On the side opposite recess 13, the ring 10 is provided with an annular groove 14: at its radially inner edge. The outer ring 11 is provided on its radially inner side with straight diagonally extending slots 15 which are complementary to the slots 12 in the inner ring 10, and with an annular recess 16 of the same radial depth as the slots 15, thus providing a shoulder 16".

One of the nozzle partitions is shownflin perspective in full lines in Fig. 3. It com-' flat plate 17 having a curved lip edges are shown as being in the same plane as the edges of the plate 17, and their ad jacent edges faces of the-rings 10 and 11. It will be understood, however, that this is only one shape which arms 19 may take, and that they may take other shapes as may be found expedient for manufacturing purposes. The essential thing is that such arms be of a suitable shape and extent to receive holding rivets and properly serve in maintaining the plates 17 in position.

When assembled the edges of the plates 17 are located in the slots 12 and 15, and the arms 19 lie in the recesses 13 and 16, their under surfaces fitting against the bottoms of such recesses. The engagement of the -under surfaces of .arms 19 against the hotdistance between the two rings as flush with the adjacent surtoms of the recesses 13 and 16 serves to limit stance is shown as having an axial depth equal to the thiclmess of the arms 19, and when arms 19 are in position, a smooth surface is presented, over which is placed an annular ring 20 which abuts against the sides of the lips 18. This ring forms one member of an annular an le bar, the other member 21 extending at right angles to the plane of the diaphragm. The ring 20, arm 19, and rin 11 are all firmly riveted together by rivets 22. The body of the diaphragm is formed of two disks 23 and 24. The disk 23 fits up over the inner ring 10 and the arm 19 which lie in recess 13, and abuts against the sides of the lips 18. The circumferential edge of disk 24 fits in the groove 14. The disks 23 and 24, ring 10, and arms 19 are firmly fastened together by rivets, two rows 25 and 26 being shown. Ad-

The lips 18 of the nozzle partitions are bent to give the desired curve to the entrance side of the nozzle passages and they are braced and held between the edgesof the'ring 20 and the disk 23. The sides of the rings 10 and 11 which form surfaces of the nozzle passages may be straight, thus forming a straight nozzle, or the may be curved as shown at 31 and 32 to orm converging nozzles. In any event the rings 10 and 11 are machined and finished prior to the assembling of the diaphragm, and it will be noted that this is all outside work which can be easily and expeditiously performed. The nozzlepartitions may be stamped from sheet material and the disks 23' and 24 may also be cut from sheet material which means a low manufacturing cost for these parts.

Turbines are designed to run with close clearances between the nozzles and the buckets, and it is accordingly essential that the discharge tips of the nozzle partition plates be exactly flush with the surfaces of the rings 10 and 11. The holding arms 19 greatly facilitate the assembling of the nozlimit the movement of the zle partitionsto such exact position and the maintaining of them there while the diaphragm is being riveted together. This is due to the fact that the holding arms 19 V partitions through slots 12 and 15. The ends of the arms 19 engage at least through a part of their radial width with the next adjacent nozzle partition so as to form a continuous ring to prevent leakage.

As is clear'from Fig. 5, the members 21 serve as spacing rings for the diaphragms to position them in the turbine casing 6, and if desired such rings may be formed separate from rings 20 instead of integral therewith. Or, they may be omitted, and the diaphragms spaced by other suitable means.

All the parts of the diaphragm, it will be seen, can be finished prior to assembling so there is no difiicult inside finishing to do in the manufacture of the diaphragm. This applies particularly to the nozzle passages, two surfaces of which are formed by the nozzle partitions and the other two by surfaces of the concentric rings. It will be understood, of course, that the nozzle diaphragms will in general be built in two halves, being split on a plane through'the axis of the shaft, to facilitate assembling of the turbine, this being the usual practice.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,-we have described the principle of operatlon of our invention, together What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is, 1. In a diaphragm for elastic-fluid turbines, the combination of two spaced concentric rings provided with slots in their adjacent sides, nozzle partitions having their edges located in said slots, said partitions j being provided with arms which lie against surfaces of the rings, and means for fasten-mt ing said arms to the rings.

2. In a diaphragm for elastic-fluid tur- I bines the combination of two spaced concentric rings provided with slots in their adjacent side's,'nozzle partitions having their edges located in said slots, said partitions being provided with arms which he against surfaces of the rings, means for fastening said arms to the outer ring, and a disk which forms a central portion of the diaphragm and extends over and is fastened to said inner ring and the arms which lie against it.

3. In a diaphragm for elastic-fluid turbines, the'combinatio-n of two spaced concentric rings having diagonally extending slots in their adjacent sides, plates forming nozzle partitions having their edges located in said slots, said plates having arms formed integral therewith which engage the surfaces on the admission sides of the rings, an annular member between which and the outer ring the arms which engage the outer slots, andmeans for fastening-said arms to the rings.

5. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of a casing, and spaced nozzle dia-l phragms therein which divide the casing into stages, each nozzle diaphragm comprising a pair of spaced concentric rings, nozzle partitions located between said rings and 10&

provided with extensions which engage surfaces of the rings, and members between which and the rings said extensions are fastened, one of said members having a spacing ring formed integral therewith for spacing the diaphragms in the turbine caslng.

6. In a nozzle diaphragm, the combination of two spaced members having diagonally extending slots in their adjacent sides, nozzle partltions comprising plates having their edges located in said slots and arms formed integral with said plates and engaging surfaces of said members, and Iigieans for fastening the arms to said memers.

7. In a nozzlediaphragm, the combination of two spaced members, nozzle partitions comprising plates located between said members and arms formed integral with said plates and engaging surfaces of said members, and means fastening said arms to the members.

8. In a nozzle diaphragm, the combination of two spaced members, nozzle partitions comprising plates located between said members and arms formed integral with said plates and engaging surfaces of said members, and means for fastening the nozzle partitions to said members.

9. In a nozzle diaphragm, the combination of two spaced members, nozzle partitions comprisingplates located between said members and arms formed integral with said plates and engaging surfaces of said members, said arms being of such length that the ends of the arms on one plate engage through at least a portion of their radial width with the next plate, and parts between which and said members the arms are fastened.

10. In a nozzle diaphragm, the combination of two spaced members having diagonally extending slots in their adjacent sides, nozzle partitions comprising plates having their edges located in said slots and arms formed integral with said plates and engagin surfaces of said members, said plates also aving curved lips formed integral therewith which project beyond the members, parts located over said arms and enplates which lie in said grooves, a member between which and the outer ring the arms engaging the outer rings are held, and disks fastened to the inner ring to form the central part of the diaphragm, one of said disks extending over the arms which engage the inner ring.

12. In a nozzle diaphragm for turbines,

the combination of two spaced rings having diagonally extending slots in their adjacent sides, and annular grooves on their fluid admission sides, nozzle partitions comprising flat plates, the edges of which fit into said slots, and arms formed integral with said plates which. lie in said grooves, said plates also having curved lips formed integral therewith which project beyond said rings, members which are located over said arms and engage the edges of said lips, and means fastening said members, arms and rings together.

13. A nozzle partition comprising a flat plate and holding arms formed integral with one end of the plate and extending at an angle to the plane of the plate.

14. A nozzle partition comprising a flat plate, holding arms formed integral with one end of the plate and extending at an angle to the plane of the plate, and a curved lip also formed integral with the plate and located between said arms.

In witness whereof, WILLIAM J. A. Lon- DON has hereunto set his hand this twentythird day of November, 1917, and EDMUND M. PH1LL1PS has hereunto set his hand this 30th day of November, 1917.

WILLIAM J. A. LONDON. EDMUND M. PHILLIPS. 

